Sandy Hook family haunted by doubters

We've heard enough of his conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook massacre, the Boston Marathon bombing and other heart-wrenching tragedies not having happened.

We're also embarrassed that he harassed Veronique and Leonard Pozner, asking for proof that their 6-year-old son Noah was among the 20 children and six adults slaughtered at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

"Tracy even sent us a certified letter demanding proof that [Noah] once lived," the couple wrote in a Sun Sentinel op-ed in December. "We found this so outrageous and unsettling that we filed a police report for harassment."

We've heard Tracy, who couldn't be reached for comment, believes the whole thing was staged to help President Obama push gun-control legislation.

Earlier this month, the tenured professor was rightfully fired by FAU for insubordination and circumvention of university policies. He wasn't fired for his theories, but for failing to submit a "Report of Outside Employment or Professional Activity Form." When Tracy finally filed the form, the university says he failed to include the activities that have caused such controversy, including his personal blog.

Tracy, an associate professor of communications who was earning $63,812 per year, cast a negative spotlight on our local state university. So, good riddance.

We thought we were through with the effects of his hurtful screeds, but we were wrong.

The Washington Post reported last week that since Tracy was fired, things have gotten worse for Leonard Pozner.

Pozner told the Post he gets ugly comments, often on social media, such as: "Eventually you'll be tried for your crimes of treason against the people." And, "I won't be satisfied until the caskets are opened." And, "How much money did you get for faking all this?"

Worse, a few days after Tracy's firing, Pozner said he received several death threats, including phone messages such as, "You going to die," and "Justice is coming to you real soon."

Many of the conspiracy theorists refer to themselves as "truthers," a term Pozner soundly rejects.

"Calling Tracy a "truther" makes it sound like there's an element of truth to his arguments. I'm all in favor of truth seekers and government critics, and I consider them to be a healthy component of society. Tracy is the exact opposite. He's more of a virus."

It is unfathomable that this family, which has suffered so much grief, must now endure death threats. But obviously, there are other conspiracy theorists out there just as deluded as Tracy. You can find them on YouTube and other Internet sites.

"The Internet has linked every village idiot that might not otherwise have ever met," Pozner told us. "Some are like-minded and others clash. In the past, we would have never crossed paths, but now we're in each other's face as soon as we sit down in front of our computers."

To try to stop the harassment, Pozner posted his son's birth and death certificates online, along with the medical examiner's report. The hoaxers responded by insisting the records were counterfeit.

Neither Tracy nor his fellow non-believers are worthy of anybody's attention. Nor is Tracy worthy of having his firing challenged by the faculty union. But that's what is happening.

The United Faculty of Florida is providing legal representation for him. Union President Robert Zoeller declined to say why he thinks Tracy was wrongly fired, telling the Sun Sentinel only, "There's a lot of stuff people aren't aware of that I can't speak to right now."

Granted, the union's job is to defend its members. But union leadership should be smart enough to recognize that tenure doesn't give a professor the right to break the rules, harass a grieving family or embarrass the university.

The union should not see its job as defending the indefensible.

Tracy claims he is a victim, too, telling the Post, "I am not aware of any threats made to the Pozners, yet their action has encouraged many against me. I have received at least 100 profane or threatening emails and telephone calls."

That is not OK, either. But he has brought this on himself.

It is good Tracy is no longer on FAU's payroll. It is heartbreaking that his actions still haunt the Pozners. We would like this to be over, although Leonard Pozner isn't confident it will ever happen.

"There is no 'done' with this," he told us.

Hopefully there is a 'done', and soon.

The sooner James Tracy disappears from the news and the Pozners' lives, the better.